Media

This report adds new insights to an ongoing debate about the extent of social isolation in America. A widely-reported 2006 study argued that since 1985 Americans have become more socially isolated, the size of their discussion networks has declined, and the diversity of those people with whom they discuss important matters has decreased. In particular, the study found that Americans have fewer close ties to those from their neighborhoods and from voluntary associations. Download report here.

The 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards on Univision broke audience records for the network, reaching 12.8 million viewers, that’s all viewers, not just Hispanics, who watched some or all of the star-studded gala event. The broadcast made Univision the #2 network for the night among Adults 18-34, attracting 2.0 million viewers and beating CBS, NBC, FOX and CW in the process. In addition, the awards show attracted an average of 6.0 million Total Viewers 2+ and took the #3 spot among Adults 18-49 with 3.5 million average viewers, beating NBC, FOX and CW for the entire night in that demo. In key local markets such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston, and Phoenix, Univision stations were #1 for the night, regardless of language, among Total Viewers 2+.

AT&T announced that it has completed its acquisition of Centennial Communications Corp. The acquisition enhances AT&T’s network coverage across the Midwest and Southeast United States and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Fox Sports en Espanol and PokerStars.net recently announced the first-ever Spanish-language U.S. broadcast of a Latin American poker event.

Measuring the US mobile audience may sound simple enough, but as it turns out, many researchers count active mobile subscriptions, not the actual number of people with a mobile device.

When is a phone not a phone? In the hands of children and tweens, today’s cell phones are primarily used as text messaging devices, cameras, gaming consoles, video viewers, MP3 players, and incidentally, as mobile phones via the speaker capability so their friends can chime in on the call. Parents are getting dialed in to the social media phenomenon and beginning to understand—and limit—how children use new media.

Minority radio ownership has remained virtually unchanged since 2007 even as the number of FCC-licensed stations has increased, according to a study released by the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC). Download report here.